A growing number of private and public schools along the boundary between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Niger State have been shut down due to mounting security concerns.
The closure follows a directive by the Niger State Government ordering all schools to shut down indefinitely after the abduction of students from St. Mary’s School in Papiri.
A visit by Daily Trust to Madalla, Zuma Rock Area, Dakwa and Sabon Wuse, all in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, showed that schools in the affected areas were under lock and key on Monday.
These communities form part of a busy border corridor between Abuja and Niger State, lying within the expanding Dei-Dei District of the FCT.
Similarly, schools in Garam and other communities around Bwari Area Council, which share boundaries with Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have also been closed.
Checks showed that the FCT is bordered by Niger State for 179 km, Kaduna for 45 km, Nasarawa for 156 km, and Kogi for 17 km, making several schools susceptible to spillover insecurity from neighbouring states.
A teacher in one of the private schools told Daily Trust that proprietors of border-area schools held a meeting and resolved to comply with the government directive, even though some were not directly affected by recent attacks.
He said, “Though we’re not located in the areas mostly affected by security challenges, we still have to be proactive and take preventive measures by listening to the authority.
“So, we have asked our children to stay at home for now pending when everything is fine. We are about to start our examinations. That means, anytime we resume, we will commence it immediately.
Parents Notified To Pick Up Learning Materials
One of the schools sent a message to parents on Sunday night directing them to pick up their children’s books for home study.
The notice read, “Following the directive from the Niger State Government, we regret to inform you that our school will be closed with immediate effect from 24th November, 2025, until further notice.
“This decision was made after careful consideration and in response to the current security situation in the state.
“We prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, and this closure is necessary to ensure their protection. We will communicate any updates or resumption dates as soon as possible.”
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